NASA is interested in studying whether there is useful science to be done by humans in suborbital flights. Automated experiments can be usefully flown on such flights, but NASA wants to determine whether having a human directly "in the loop" would enhance the value of such experiments.
If NASA decides putting astronauts on such flights would be useful, it would be a plus for that part of the NewSpace industry that is trying to develop suborbital craft. Not only would ferrying astronauts to the edge of space and back give those companies an added income stream and a public relations boon, but it would allow them to work with NASA procedures and technology. A stable source of income may even allow them to pursue an orbital craft a bit sooner than expected.
Such an approach would also give NASA a way to give astronauts flight time between the retirement of the shuttle and the first flight of Aries/Orion.
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